The H1N1 (swine flu) virus has been responsible for making around six million people sick, hospitalizing several thousand, and has caused the death of roughly 1,400 people - mainly children and young adults. While this virus has not yet reached the death toll that the seasonal flu claims, it has become an unexpected global epidemic.
The swine flu vaccination was released in early October and was only given out to certain groups of people - particularly children, parents with children in the home and those who were elderly. However, there was a shortage of vaccination when the numbers of how many people were actually affected began to surface.
H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccination Recall
Now that the vaccine appears to be available and somewhat plentiful, with new shipments arriving in the United States daily, the Centers for Disease Control have released a statement that one of the manufacturers of the vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur, has voluntarily recalled 800,000 dosages. The recall is for vaccines that were given to children between the ages of six months and three years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that there is nothing harmful about the vaccinations that should cause parents to worry. The vaccines were simply deemed to have lost their ability to be effective over time. However, it is currently unknown why the vaccines lost their efficacy.
What Parents Should Do
The solution for parents is to make sure that their children still get two doses of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination as was originally recommended. If your child was given one of the recalled doses, it can be identified by your child's pediatrician and they can advise if any further options should be explored.
Tips for Avoiding the Swine Flu
The best thing that parents and children alike can do to avoid the swine flu is to have their children and themselves vaccinated. While it is unfortunate that some of the vaccines have been recalled, the CDC has not stated what the current level of effectiveness is with those vaccinations. Currently, none of the other dosages that were given appear to have any problems.
In addition to getting vaccinated, you should always try to keep your hands clean with hand sanitizers when you are in public places or after you have touched public items. Likewise, if your children are sick, do not send them to school. And if you are sick, do not go to work. Or if you know of someone who is sick with the swine flu, stay away from them for at least seven days until the period of contagiousness has had a chance to pass.
References:"800,000 Doses of Children's H1N1 Vaccine Recalled." Foxnews.com (December 2009)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cdc.gov (December 2009)
Jennifer Williams - Jennifer is a full-time mother with a passion for writing and is currently a medical transcription student at Everett Community College. ...
